Obituaries

Death Notice published in The Republican, 11 February, 2007

The Very Reverend Archdeacon Roman Skvarnavicius, 56, of Springfield, fell asleep in the Lord on Saturday, February 10, 2007 at the Baystate Medical Center. Born in Springfield on December 31, 1950 the son of the late Zidoras and Julia (Poplawska) Skvarnavicius, he was a lifelong Springfield resident.

Father Deacon Roman (FDR) was a graduate of Classical High School, Class of 1968, Holyoke Community College, St. Tikhon's Orthodox Seminary, and American International College. He was ordained Deacon of the Orthodox Church in America in 1982 and was attached to Holy Trinity Cathedral in Boston. He also served at St. Peter and St. Paul Russian Orthodox Church, Springfield, along with other churches throughout the Diocese of New England.

FDR currently was on the staff of Highland Valley Elder Services, Child and Family Service of Pioneer Valley Inc. and has also worked for the Multicultural Community Services of Pioneer Valley Inc. for the past 27 years. Previously he worked for Diamond International and Union Market. He helped refugees to become Americans through his bilingual and bicultural background and touched the lives of countless people. His entire life was focused on serving the Lord's Table and those who were easily forgotten or looked down upon.

FDR leaves his sister, Helena S. Lake and her husband Joseph, of Amherst; his beloved niece, Julia K. Songer and her husband Jason, of Springfield; niece and nephew, Sylvia Lake and Joseph Lake and his wife Errin; and his best friend, Michele Critelli.

The Vigil for the Departed will be held Monday at 6:30 PM at St. Peter and St. Paul Russian Orthodox Church, 118 Carew St. Springfield. Divine Liturgy with Funeral Office will be held Tuesday at 10:30 AM at the Church. Burial will follow in Oak Grove Cemetery, Springfield. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to St. Peter and St. Paul Russian Orthodox Church, 118 Carew St., Springfield, MA 01104 or Holy Trinity Orthodox Cathedral, 165 Park Drive, Boston, MA 02215-4703. Kozikowski Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Hundreds Attend Archdeacon Rites

Thursday, February 15, 2007
By ALEX PESHKOV
apeshkov@repub.com

SPRINGFIELD - The region's Russian-speaking community mourns a man who helped countless people to adjust to a new life here.

Thousands of refugees and immigrants knew Archdeacon Roman Skvarnavicius as a social worker, a friendly and accessible man.

Just a few days before his death on Saturday after a battle with kidney cancer, he was helping his clients.

Hundreds attended his funeral on Tuesday at St. Peter and St. Paul Orthodox Church in Springfield.

Hundreds more attended the Vigil for the Departed held in the Carew Street church on Monday night, waiting for the chance to approach the open casket flanked by His Grace, the Right Reverend Nikon Liolin, Bishop of Boston, New England, and the Albanian Archdiocese; and His Eminence, the Most Reverend Job Osacky, Archbishop of Chicago and the Midwest, former Bishop of Boston and New England, and 13 other priests.

Skvarnavicius' humility and readiness to help others were dominant themes at both gatherings.

For almost three decades he worked with multicultural populations and on mental health care access issues. His extensive work with community-based organizations focused on refugees and immigrants.

"He was a loving, caring, giving example," Liolin said after FDR, Father Deacon Roman, as many knew him, was buried in Oak Grove Cemetery.

"He could not keep a dollar in his pocket for himself. He was always giving. People would call him in the middle of the night, asking for something, asking for money, and he would always share," said his sister, Helena S. Lake of Amherst.

"Nothing more clearly describes Roman than a quote from one of his favorite books, 'The Little Prince:' 'Here is the secret. It's quite simple: One sees clearly only with the heart. Anything essential is invisible to the eyes.' This is how I knew him and will remember him," said Michele F. Critelli, of Belchertown, a longtime friend, who read "The Little Prince" for the first time with Skvarnavicius.

A lifelong Springfield resident and a graduate of Saint Tikhon's Seminary, South Canaan, Pa., Skvarnacius was attached to Boston's Holy Trinity Cathedral. For many years he also served at St. Peter and St. Paul Russian Orthodox Church, along with other churches in New England.

"Many members of our community have known him since he was a young boy. He grew up in faith and dedicated his entire life to the faithful service to God and people, and he left this life to the Desired Fatherland in peace and with prayer. Our parish was blessed to have him as a concelebrant and a loving brother," said the Rev. Mikhail Korolev, rector of Saint Peter and St. Paul Russian Orthodox Church.

Skvarnavicius, 56, was on the staff of Highland Valley Elder Services, Child and Family Service of Pioneer Valley Inc. and worked for the Multicultural Community Services of Pioneer Valley Inc. for 27 years. He also served as the Western Massachusetts regional director of the Massachusetts Medical Interpreter Association.

"He interpreted. He drove people to Boston, sometimes two or three times a week. He was always ready to help. He just couldn't say 'no'," his sister said.

"He had a big heart and could see the good in other people," said the Rev. Vladimir Aleandro, rector of Christ the Savior Orthodox Church in Southbury, Conn., and dean of the Connecticut deanery.

"He just embraced world, embraced others and was able to see the good in people. Back then (some 20 years ago), the youth program that we worked for wasn't that big at all. But I always remember him saying, 'It doesn't matter, whether you have one person or a hundred people: You still have to give yourself totally.' With him, it was always person-to-person."

Osacky said he and Skvarnavicius met as students in 1969 at seminary.

"He always tried to do more than just 'doing the duty.' In the seminary, instead of serving cold cereals for breakfast as everyone else would do, he would get up earlier to meet us with a big bowl of home-cooked oatmeal."

He was a cleric of the Orthodox Church in America. In the Orthodox Church, the title of archdeacon, the highest rank for deacons, is usually applied to the eldest of the deacons serving alongside a bishop.

Liolin said, "He was always there when I needed him."